Horse Shoe Layout
Difficulty: Easy
The Horse Shoe is a classic layout. It is more advanced than the three-domino reading, yet simpler than most other layouts. It is a versatile method that can be used for most queries, though there are other layouts which would go into more depth. Like the simple Past, Present, and Future layout, it contains these dominoes in positions #1, #2, and #7, but also has four other dominoes that help the reader understand how to deal with the future better. The dominoes are to be read as follows:
- The Past: Past events affecting the question.
- The Present: The current state or approaching influence.
- Hidden Influences: Things the reader may not be aware of (or barely be aware of).
- Obstacles: This is the challenge: obstacles may be avoided or may have to be dealt with.
- External Influences: Attitudes and thoughts regarding people around the reader.
- Suggestions: Recommended course of action.
- Outcome: The result of following the suggestions.
Your Horse Shoe Reading
Obstacle ![]() Three/Six |
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Hidden Influences ![]() Blank/Blank |
External Influences ![]() Three/One |
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The Present ![]() Four/Five |
Suggestion ![]() Three/Blank |
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The Past ![]() Five/Five |
The Outcome ![]() Four/Six |

The Past Card represents past events that are affecting the question.
Five/Five
This sign indicates a growth in popularity. There may be fighting, but you will be victorious. Fame may yield fast wealth or fortune in smaller scattered pieces. If dispelling ghosts, you will be successful if you offer small gifts such as tea.

The Present Card represents the current state or immediately approaching influence.
Four/Five
Your pursuits are spoiled; hopes are scattered like dust in the wind. You would be well advised to perform suppression rituals, burial rituals, or a peaceful fire ritual. Enemies wish you ill. Welcome visitors bring bad news. You have accumulated bad energies through faulty decisions, and you may need to retrace your steps to see where things went wrong.

Hidden Influences - Things that you may not be aware of, or barely be aware of.
Blank/Blank
The Double Blank is perhaps the grandest of dominoes. This domino often symbolises a major change. It is the domino of fate, destiny, providence, and karma. Several new paths will open for you, and you are spiritually and intellectually ready to take them on. However, if this domino is drawn in a single-domino reading, it simply means to ask the question again at a later time.

Obstacle - This is the challenge.
Three/Six
Allow your feelings and passions to guide you. Do not allow your emotions to take a back seat to your intellect at this time. Explore your deepest feelings about every aspect of your life and act to ease any lingering negativity. Peaceful activities and purification rituals are beneficial. Destructive works will not succeed.

External Influences - Attitudes about this situation from people around the querent.
Three/One
Generally a good sign, this indicates that malignant spirits have left you. Your ails will subside, and your plans will be fulfilled.

Suggestion - The recommended course of action.
Three/Blank
That which has confused you will soon become clear. Your ability to think lucidly is reaching its zenith. Solutions to lingering problems will soon be obvious to you, and you may question how it was possible that you did not see this before.

The Outcome - What will happen if the suggestion is followed.
Four/Six
This sign indicates great stability, and that projects already begun will meet with success. Generally, a favourable sign, the only problem may be a delay in travel, as this is a sign of staying in one place.